Lyriothemis abrahami : New species of dragonfly
A new species of dragonfly, Lyriothemis abrahami, which was previously misidentified as Lyriothemis flava due to superficial similarities, has been officially documented.
- It is a new species of dragonfly discovered in Kerala.
- It breeds in small water pools in tree holes.
- It exhibits strong dimorphism, with males featuring uniquely shaped hamules and female displaying jet black bodies with yellow triangular spots.
- Its distribution spanned from lowland rainforests to mid-elevation evergreen and deciduous forests between 50 m and 1,100 m above sea level.
- The finding increased Kerala’s odonate species count to 191, including 78 endemic species,
- The dragonfly is an indicator of forest health, stressing habitat conservation’s broader ecological benefits.
- Dragonflies are among the apex predators of the insect world and are considered to be responsible for regulating the numbers of many other insect species.
- They are crucial insect predators that help regulate mosquito and pest populations in urban areas.
